Last night I had the delight of attending the Fall 2009 Runway Show, presented by Nordstrom to benefit the Detlef Schrempf Foundation. In its 4th year, the show was sold out to approximately 500 guests whose tickets sales generated over $35,000. All proceeds went directly to benefit the Foundation, which provides assistance to Northwest children in need and their families.
Guests of the event enjoyed cocktails, hor dourves, and on-site boutique shopping, similar to last year. John Olerud, former Seattle Mariner, and his wife Kelly were special guests at the event and spoke on behalf of Detlef and Mari Schrempf who were not in attendance.
The fashion show itself was a real treat. The brand new venue of the Hyatt Regency was a much better location than previous years’ Fashion Axis at Lincoln Square. The ballroom was set up with stadium-style seating, the runway actually formed a rectangle around guest seating in the middle, and the whole thing felt more intimate. The runway itself was also lower to the ground, so the models felt more accessible and the details of their clothing were easier to see.
Fashion staples of the show were highlighted by bold colors, shiny fabrics, and leather pieces. 10 scenes featured 10 different designer lines: Vince, Boss Orange, Elizabeth & James, Milly, Rag & Bone, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Leifdottir, Haute Hippie, Boss Black, and Diane Von Furstenberg. My favorite line was Haute Hippie, which featured knee-high boots, draping tunics with bead or chain detail, and skinny jeans. A mosaic-multi sequined dress was so popular that some women were ooh-ing, ahh-ing, and whoo-ing over it!
What stood out to me most were the daring combination of colors that were displayed in a lot of the styles. Combinations of red with magenta pink, dark green leggings with a printed vintage-inspired dress, and traditional men’s suits with brightly colored scarves were a stretch for me to visualize someone actually wearing. I did, however, love the animal-print leggings, Leg warmers paired with skinny jeans and platform heels, scooped backs, and biker-themed pieces.
The night capped off with more boutique shopping, paired with champagne and dessert. The mini cupcakes and cheesecake cones were pretty much to die for. I look forward to seeing the Nordstrom Fall Fashion Shows grow each year, as Bellevue itself becomes more fashionable.
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